One dead in crash on Highway 99 near Biggs

BIGGS >> At least one person was killed and Highway 99 was blocked near Rio Bonito Road after a three-vehicle accident Friday afternoon.

About 5:15 p.m., A Chevy GMC 2500 pickup hauling a 20-foot trailer collided with a Honda Civic on Highway 99, north of Rio Bonito Road, California Highway Patrol Lt. Marc Stokes said. As a result, a Ford Mustang driving behind the Civic crashed into the back of the sedan.

The driver of the truck, which was southbound, swerved onto the northbound lane for an unknown reason and hit the Civic head-on, he said.

The driver of the Civic was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was transported to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

The names of the drivers involved were not available by deadline.

Wyatt Roberts, 22, and Briant Stafford, 22, were in the Mustang involved in the wreck, but were uninjured.

Roberts said he saw the truck swerve into the northbound lane very quickly near a driveway on the east side of Highway 99.

Two other vehicles were able to avoid impact, but the driver of the Civic didn't appear to notice in time, he said.

Robert's mustang slammed into the Civic and all three vehicles were sent off the roadway, landing in an embankment off the northbound lane of Highway 99

"The white car is spread across 150 feet," Stafford said.

Highway 99 was closed as of deadline Friday, with no estimate of when it might reopen.